Right. Rob Nicol and BJ Watling are out in the middle. Keegan Meth will take the first new ball

9.10am New Zealand have won the toss and are batting. Keeping in with the debut theme, Zimbabwe have handed out two caps today: Natsai M'shangwe and Njabulo Ncube. New Zealand have rested Martin Guptill, plus many changes that Ross Taylor himself doesn't remember. "Given the struggles of the Zimbabwe batting it's a shame Gary Balance hasn't been given a chance. He's a quality young player." Gareth, it is just as well. Imagine the number of puns in the headlines over the world

8.30am The last ODI of the series. We are in Bulawayo. Let's begin with a story from an earlier New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe. Dion Nash told me that during an interview. It came after we had spoken a lot about his injuries, his experiments with marijuana, his run-ins with cricket authority. Then we spoke about his Test debut, and he said this: "I played my first Test in Zimbabwe. We had to stop the game after 20 minutes, because Robert Mugabe turned up to shake all our hands. And we stopped the game for 10 minutes. All these armed guards were there. We shook his hand, he walked away, got in his Mercedes and drove off. I have wondered ever since if it was a good thing to have my Test cricket blessed by Robert Mugabe. Not so sure." Some of the other Kiwi debutants have not been blessed on this tour. Anyway toss happens in 30 minutes

0.1

Meth to Nicol,
no run,
starts with a length ball on off, slight shape away, pushed away to cover

0.2

Meth to Nicol,
1 wide,
big wide down the leg side

Meth's action reminds me of Ajantha Mendis. Watching from behind I almost expect him to flick the ball with the middle finger because his front arm falls in front just like Mendis's does

0.2

Meth to Nicol,
OUT,
Diamond duck for Watling. Nicol has sold him down the river. Pushes to short midwicket, takes three-four solid strides down the wicket, and then says no. Watling has nowhere to go but to hope that Waller misses. Waller hits the stumps direct

BJ Watling run out 0 (3m 0b 0x4 0x6) SR: -

The keeper comes up now

0.3

Meth to Nicol,
1 wide,
wide outside off now, swinging too far away

One slip in place

0.3

Meth to Nicol,
no run,
half-volley outside off, driven down to mid-off

Meth to Nicol,
no run,
slowish delivery, length, on off, defended off the front foot

End of over 1 (2 runs)
New Zealand 2/1
(RR: 2.00)

RJ Nicol0 (6b)

BB McCullum0 (0b)

KO Meth1-0-2-0

"McCullum seems determined not to open the batting in ODIs ever since he started opening in Test matches. I hope he returns to the top of the order in the Test next week because his run as Test opener has been fairly successful and very entertaining." Dean, he is virtually opening today. I agree, though. He should be opening. Ncube to bowl for the first time in international cricket

1.1

Ncube to BB McCullum,
no run,
short of a length, quick, into the ribs, beats him for the pace. That's a good start

1.2

Ncube to BB McCullum,
no run,
stays short of a length, pushed to cover

1.3

Ncube to BB McCullum,
no run,
good pace, outside off, left alone, the keeper collects in front of his chest

1.4

Ncube to BB McCullum,
1 run,
another chance for a run-out. Sibanda makes a diving save at point, there is confusion between the batsmen, but Sibanda loses the ball just as he is about to throw

1.5

Ncube to Nicol,
FOUR,
short and wide, cut away in front of point. Finds the gap superbly

1.6

Ncube to Nicol,
no run,
left alone outside off

End of over 2 (5 runs)
New Zealand 7/1
(RR: 3.50)

RJ Nicol4 (8b 1x4)

BB McCullum1 (4b)

N Ncube1-0-5-0

KO Meth1-0-2-0

"I understand the concept of a diamond duck...would that mean a Brass Duck is when you're out before you've even left the pavillion? What then is a Small Painted Wooden Duck? WHERE DOES IT END?" Smudgeon, I could take it as far as a hangover after a night of drunken revelry on the eve of an early start

2.1

Meth to BB McCullum,
FOUR,
McCullum goes aerial, and hits it well over mid-off. Just the pace to hit, just the length to get under. Clean connection made

2.2

Meth to BB McCullum,
no run,
driven along the ground this time, to mid-on

The keeper comes up

2.3

Meth to BB McCullum,
1 run,
full outside off, takes the thick edge with some swing, to the right of third man, who is fine enough to keep them down to one

2.4

Meth to Nicol,
no run,
tries the inswinger this time, full it is, and is pushed to cover

2.5

Meth to Nicol,
FOUR,
eased away for four. A wide swinging half-volley, Nicol presses half-forward and caressed between mid-off and extra cover. Not only does he look like Guptill, he also drives like him

2.6

Meth to Nicol,
1 run,
gets a thick edge to third man on this drive

End of over 3 (10 runs)
New Zealand 17/1
(RR: 5.66)

RJ Nicol9 (11b 2x4)

BB McCullum6 (7b 1x4)

KO Meth2-0-12-0

N Ncube1-0-5-0

"With Meth bowling, Watling's dismissal could be considered a crystal duck rather than a diamond duck." Dan, if I said that I would be pushing the envelope a bit with my employers

3.1

Ncube to Nicol,
no run,
Nicol charges at him, swats across the line, and is lucky to make no contact with this short-of-a-length ball

3.2

Ncube to Nicol,
no run,
stays in the crease this time, the ball skids onto him, defended to leg

Ncube to Nicol,
no run,
short of a length, middle and leg, pushed to midwicket

"I do think that the batting line-up is a Ballance-ing act, which at the moment seems a little un-Ballanced, and needs some returning to equilibrium, or Ballance..." With this email from Daniel, I rest my case

3.6

Ncube to Nicol,
no run,
stays short of a length, on off, no room, defended

Meth to BB McCullum,
no run,
how has that missed everything? Swings and dips at him, ends up being a yorker, just outside off. McCullum is over-balanced too, but it sneaks through the keeper's pads too. A really tough stumping missed

4.3

Meth to BB McCullum,
2 runs,
clipped off the pads for a couple

4.4

Meth to BB McCullum,
no run,
leading edge this time, McCullum turns the bat face early, the ball holds its line a touch, but it doesn't carry to point

4.5

Meth to BB McCullum,
no run,
driven well, but straight to mid-off

"Shouldn't it be called the platinum duck in somewhat ironic reference to the platinum rule?" Matt, I know I am sounding terribly ignorant, but what is the platinum rule?

Ncube to Nicol,
FOUR,
short of a length, on the pads, and Nicol plays a Guptill-like pick-up pull. I want somebody to trace back to their early days, and see why Guptill and Nicol look like each other

5.2

Ncube to Nicol,
no run,
stays short of a length, but corrects the line. Defended just outside off

5.3

Ncube to Nicol,
OUT,
lovely catch by Sibanda to give Ncube a maiden ODI wicket. Not that this is what you can call a fielder's wicket alone. Ncube stays short of a length even as Nicol charges at him, the bounce and the line cramp him up, and he ends up slicing it square on the off side. Sibanda runs back from point - turns around and runs - and takes it over his shoulder

RJ Nicol c Sibanda b Ncube 14 (26m 19b 3x4 0x6) SR: 73.68

Enter captain Taylor with New Zealand two down for not much on a flat wicket. But McCullum is on strike

5.4

Ncube to BB McCullum,
FOUR,
McCullum is not erring on the side of caution. Not just as yet. This is short and wide, doesn't quite come on, but he cuts it in front of square. Over the infield

5.5

Ncube to BB McCullum,
FOUR,
a more orthodox cut shot, but just as brutal. This time he waits for it and cuts it over point

5.6

Ncube to BB McCullum,
no run,
length ball outside off, pushes forward to defend this back to the bowler

End of over 6 (12 runs)
New Zealand 33/2
(RR: 5.50)

BB McCullum17 (17b 3x4)

LRPL Taylor0 (0b)

N Ncube3-0-19-1

KO Meth3-0-14-0

"@Dan and to lesser extent you Sidharth (though atleast you Sidharth explained some common decency in reservedness) do you not think Keegan Meth fans or Zimbabwe fans in general dont see this, have some respect! And why would Dan's comment be aloud to be published if Sidharth says "that it would be pushing the envelope with his employers!? Clearly Sidharth you've just been given a hypocritical license to let loose..." Levi, I am sure no offence was meant

6.1

Meth to Taylor,
FOUR,
Taylor hits a four first ball. This is a wide half-volley and takes some reaching, but reach out he does, and place it between cover and cover-point

"The Platinum Rule was the 11th Episode of Season 3 of How i Met Your Mother..." Matt, I must have missed that episode. or the season

6.2

Meth to Taylor,
no run,
this is closer to off, and is respectfully played back

6.3

Meth to Taylor,
no run,
defended off the front foot again

6.4

Meth to Taylor,
1 run,
short of a length, around off, swinging away, gets Taylor to push at it away from the body, takes the edge, but it is short and wide of slip

6.5

Meth to BB McCullum,
1 run,
fuller, close to off, pushes forward and pushes the ball to long-off for one

"Zimbabwe gone for the 3 wicket keepers policy (Taibu, Mutizwa and Taylor) that used to serve Somerset well (Turner, Burns, Holloway) in one day cricket. Will England copy this with Kieswetter, Bairstow and Buttler?" Chris, I think over in England India played Patel, Dravid and Dhoni. Didn't seem to bring about any results

6.6

Meth to Taylor,
2 runs,
clipped away off the pads

End of over 7 (8 runs)
New Zealand 41/2
(RR: 5.85)

LRPL Taylor7 (5b 1x4)

BB McCullum18 (18b 3x4)

KO Meth4-0-22-0

N Ncube3-0-19-1

John Ward: "Gary Ballance has a British passport and so is not eligible to play for Zimbabwe."

7.1

Ncube to BB McCullum,
OUT,
that's a ripper, lovely bowling from the debutant. Short of a length outside off, kicks off and holds its line. McCullum is drawn into pushng at it, and is done in by the straightening of the ball. Huge appeal right away, McCullum doesn't walk, but the umpire sends him on his way. A thin edge it seems like

BB McCullum c †Mutizwa b Ncube 18 (31m 19b 3x4 0x6) SR: 94.73

Jesse Ryder is the new batsman. One slip and a gully in place

7.2

Ncube to Ryder,
no run,
stays short of a length, middle and leg, pushed to midwicket

There is no speed gun available, but Ncube has got good wheels

7.3

Ncube to Ryder,
no run,
length ball, on middle and off, defended back to the bowler

7.4

Ncube to Ryder,
no run,
Ryder drives at this length ball without any feet, is beaten by the angle across him

7.5

Ncube to Ryder,
no run,
another beauty here, fairly rapid, just short of a driving length, on middle and off, seams away slightly. Ryder's feet don't move again, and is beaten again

Gully moves to second slip

7.6

Ncube to Ryder,
1 run,
short of a length, outside off, punched away wide of cover

End of over 8 (1 run)
New Zealand 42/3
(RR: 5.25)

JD Ryder1 (5b)

LRPL Taylor7 (5b 1x4)

N Ncube4-0-20-2

KO Meth4-0-22-0

"@Sidharth, like i said this is Zim's best hunting ground, we in for a treat. Today's Special : Kiwi sauce." Grapes Bruce is optimistic after the good start for Zimbabwe

8.1

Meth to Ryder,
no run,
Ryder presses forward and drives with an open face, gets close to the line this time, but can't beat point

Meth to Ryder,
1 run,
short of a length, on the pads, worked away to deep midwicket for one

"The question is does Ballance want to play for zim and make an effort at getting his passport sorted out or would he prefer to play for england? Its a bit in the Ballance." Brett, all I know is, by the time he debuts people will be ashamed of themselves at making yet another pun

8.4

Meth to Taylor,
FOUR,
easy delivery, a half-volley on the pads, Taylor capitalises with a flick past midwicket

8.5

Meth to Taylor,
no run,
length ball, on off, right forward to defend

8.6

Meth to Taylor,
no run,
length ball, outside off, holding its line, hits the outside half of the bat, goes along the ground to point

End of over 9 (5 runs)
New Zealand 47/3
(RR: 5.22)

LRPL Taylor11 (8b 2x4)

JD Ryder2 (8b)

KO Meth5-0-27-0

N Ncube4-0-20-2

9.1

Ncube to Ryder,
no run,
short, skids on him, gets a bottom edge on the pull, but Ryder is safe

Ncube to Ryder,
FOUR,
much better from Ryder. Get a length ball outside off, doesn't move his feet too much, but comes half forward to get close to the line, and drives it through extra cover. All along the ground

9.4

Ncube to Ryder,
no run,
half forward again, but this time in defence

"Was that THE John Ward, legendary Zimbabwe cricket journo? Great to hear his insights...
I have heard a lot of speculation about Ballance in the media and on zim cricket forums; it would be such a shame for him to be lost to Zimbabwe a la Graham Hick" Marcus, that email did come from Zimbabwe, but I can neither confirm or deny if he is THE John Ward. Ncube goes round the stumps

9.5

Ncube to Ryder,
no run,
length ball outside off, angling in, defended with an open face

9.6

Ncube to Ryder,
FOUR,
Ryder' wrists. It's a half-volley on the pads. Ryder hardly seems to have hit it, but the flick carries almost all the way for a six

End of over 10 (8 runs)
New Zealand 55/3
(RR: 5.50)

JD Ryder10 (14b 2x4)

LRPL Taylor11 (8b 2x4)

N Ncube5-0-28-2

KO Meth5-0-27-0

Ray Price to bowl now

10.1

Price to Taylor,
no run,
wide of the crease, holds its line against the angle, defended respectfully by Taylor

Dan: "Apologies Levi, no offence meant. It was just a light-hearted pun, much the same as those coming in regarding Gary Ballance. I like the look of this Meth. He's bowling with a good bit of speed."

10.2

Price to Taylor,
no run,
slower through the air, draws him forward, played watchfully again

10.3

Price to Taylor,
no run,
another forward defensive

10.4

Price to Taylor,
1 run,
this one holds into the surface a bit, and turns too. But because it starts from leg, and a touch short, it is easy to work it away for a single

Stays round the wicket for the left-hand batsman

10.5

Price to Ryder,
1 run,
short of a length, on the pads, clipped away on the up, gets a single to deep square

10.6

Price to Taylor,
1 run,
nicely flighted, middle and off, driven to long-off for one

End of over 11 (3 runs)
New Zealand 58/3
(RR: 5.27)

LRPL Taylor13 (13b 2x4)

JD Ryder11 (15b 2x4)

RW Price1-0-3-0

N Ncube5-0-28-2

"I find it jolly well humorous that kiwi fruit don't come from New Zealand, but kiwi birds do, wot! What's kiwi sauce made of?" Basil Stag Hare, this one seems to have the first ingredient: early wickets. Must say that NZ have kept attacking despite those wickets

11.1

Ncube to Taylor,
no run,
short of a length, outside off, left alone

11.2

Ncube to Taylor,
no run,
this one doesn't bounce much outside off, shoulders arms to it

11.3

Ncube to Taylor,
no run,
length ball, angling in towards off, defended off the front foot

"@Dan- Meth bowling with speed; I presume the second drug related pun was unintended?" Yes Marcus, that did seem like an insincere apology

11.4

Ncube to Taylor,
no run,
angling too far down leg, but he fails to make contact and is hit on the pad

11.5

Ncube to Taylor,
no run,
leans into this drive outside off, but can't beat cover

11.6

Ncube to Taylor,
no run,
short of a length, wide outside off, Taylor decides against cutting, hoping it will be called a wide. The border-line decision goes with the bowler this time. Good to see

End of over 12 (maiden)
New Zealand 58/3
(RR: 4.83)

LRPL Taylor13 (19b 2x4)

JD Ryder11 (15b 2x4)

N Ncube6-1-28-2

RW Price1-0-3-0

Over the wicket to Ryder now

12.1

Price to Ryder,
no run,
short of a length, turning in towards middle, pushed to midwicket

12.2

Price to Ryder,
no run,
defended to that straightish midwicket again

12.3

Price to Ryder,
1 run,
places this one wide of that man at midwicket, gets a single

"A quick note to say what a phenomenal bowler Ray Price is. A spinner in the modern age who goes for less than 4 an over? Amazing! My all time favourite ODI bowler must be Big Bird, but Price runs him close." James, he does have the Joel Garner stare

12.5

Price to Taylor,
1 leg bye,
angling into the pads, misses with the flick, but takes a leg-bye

Stays round the wicket to Ryder too

12.6

Price to Ryder,
no run,
pitched up outside off, defended back to the bowler

End of over 13 (2 runs)
New Zealand 60/3
(RR: 4.61)

JD Ryder12 (19b 2x4)

LRPL Taylor13 (21b 2x4)

RW Price2-0-4-0

N Ncube6-1-28-2

"We still grow plenty of kiwifruit in NZ, but we made the mistake of selling our plants around the world! Now you can get them from anyone, but ours are still the best.

I agree completely that Zimbabwe need their best players available and would be very sad to see a player like Ballance lost to the international side." Jez, even I remember eating good kiwifruit when I was down there in 2008-09. Here is Elton Chigumbura

13.1

Chigumbura to Taylor,
1 run,
the loosener is short and wide, but he has got protection at sweeper-cover

One slip in place still

13.2

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
punched away to cover, can't find the gap

"Kiwifruit are originally from China, were first marketed and grown for export in NZ but the name 'kiwi fruit' was never trademarked. In cricketing speak it's a bit like Hick being a product of Zimbabwe but all the benefit of his talents being realised in England!" Michael, not sure England benefited much from Hick's talent. And it would be ironic if your second name were to be Atherton

13.3

Chigumbura to Ryder,
1 wide,
wide down the leg side

13.3

Chigumbura to Ryder,
FOUR,
stays leg side again, on a length, and Ryder flicks it beautifully, wide of deep midwicket, gets four for it

13.4

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
angling outside off now, punched to extra cover

"Can we please stop talking about kiwi fruit, wot! It's making me hungry. Why can't we just talk about cricket?" Basil Stag Hare, you could jolly well try eating the insect too. Wot?

13.6

Chigumbura to Ryder,
1 run,
clipped away off the pads for a single to deep square

End of over 14 (7 runs)
New Zealand 67/3
(RR: 4.78)

JD Ryder17 (24b 3x4)

LRPL Taylor14 (22b 2x4)

E Chigumbura1-0-7-0

RW Price2-0-4-0

14.1

Price to Ryder,
1 run,
overpitched on off, driven to long-on for one

14.2

Price to Taylor,
no run,
angled into the pads, defended to midwicket

14.3

Price to Taylor,
no run,
flighted outside off, defended back to the bowler

14.4

Price to Taylor,
no run,
short of a length, pushed to midwicket

14.5

Price to Taylor,
no run,
presses forward to try and work this to leg, but can't beat midwicket

14.6

Price to Taylor,
1 run,
flighted outside off, driven to long-off for one

End of over 15 (2 runs)
New Zealand 69/3
(RR: 4.60)

LRPL Taylor15 (27b 2x4)

JD Ryder18 (25b 3x4)

RW Price3-0-6-0

E Chigumbura1-0-7-0

Tim: ""If Ballance doesn't want to commit to playing for Zimbabwe, then Zimbabwe is better off without him. I hope they have learnt their lesson from the Goodwin, Johnson and Ervine sagas. If you are neither hot or cold but lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth....". Bowling PP taken

15.1

Chigumbura to Taylor,
1 run,
length ball, on middle and leg, pushed past the bowler for one to mid-on

"Kiwifruit were known as Chinese Gooseberry's in New Zealand for many years. Changuing the name to kiwfruit was one of the great marketing ideas." Cliff, New Zealand are never short of marketing ideas. Pretty canny their advertising industry is

15.2

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
length ball, on the pads, can't find a gap on the leg side

"I see what you did there, Sidharth! So long as it's not one of them weta fellas! Apparently, they don't provide a very Ballanced diet..." Daniel, anybody with anything to do with cricket shouldn't deal with balanced diets

15.3

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
full and wide, Ryder throws his bat at it. Misses, and Chigumbura is lucky to get away with this. Not least because it is not called a wide

15.4

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
short of a length, close to off, punched back to the bowler

"How about we talk about the ALL BLACKS WINNING!! I don't think anyone understands how much that means to New Zealanders..." Luke, anybody who has seen South Africa not win a cricket World Cup knows just how much it means. I hope the party goes on for a week at least

15.5

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
short of a length, outside off, doesn't quite come on, hit back to the bowler

Time for a Kiwidrink. "FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!! Thers's a cricket game going on. And all we can talk about is kiwifruit and make puns about some player's name. There should be some sort of Ballance at least..." Matt, I think we will exhaust all good Ballance puns before the night is over

End of over 16 (2 runs)
New Zealand 71/3
(RR: 4.43)

JD Ryder19 (30b 3x4)

LRPL Taylor16 (28b 2x4)

E Chigumbura2-0-9-0

RW Price3-0-6-0

16.1

Price to Ryder,
1 run,
flighted outside off, pushed to long-on for one

"I think Jesse Ryder has a balanced diet, a slice of pizza in each hand!" Gareth, does he drink beer through a long straw then?

16.2

Price to Taylor,
1 run,
flicked away square on the leg side

16.3

Price to Ryder,
no run,
punched back to the bowler

16.4

Price to Ryder,
1 run,
comes forward to work this away for a single into the leg side

16.5

Price to Taylor,
FOUR,
there comes the Taylor slog-sweep. It was always a matter of when and not if. Goes square of deep midwicket with this one

16.6

Price to Taylor,
1 run,
pushed straight to midwicket, wants a quick single, a direct-hit there would have run Ryder out

I'll be back soon. Sid Talya will keep you informed until then

End of over 17 (8 runs)
New Zealand 79/3
(RR: 4.64)

LRPL Taylor22 (31b 3x4)

JD Ryder21 (33b 3x4)

RW Price4-0-14-0

E Chigumbura2-0-9-0

17.1

Chigumbura to Taylor,
1 run,
pushed to deep cover off the front foot

17.2

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
pushed off the front foot towards the bowler

17.3

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
short of a good length on the off, chips it in the direction of mid-off

17.4

Chigumbura to Ryder,
2 runs,
lands safely, Ryder got his foot outside off and tried to dispatch it over square leg but ended up getting a top edge that fell safely behind short fine

17.5

Chigumbura to Ryder,
1 run,
pitched up outside off, drilled towards mid-off, they clinch a single as he dives to his right

17.6

Chigumbura to Taylor,
1 run,
goodish length on middle, turned wide of square leg for a single to keep strike

End of over 18 (5 runs)
New Zealand 84/3
(RR: 4.66)

LRPL Taylor24 (33b 3x4)

JD Ryder24 (37b 3x4)

E Chigumbura3-0-14-0

RW Price4-0-14-0

18.1

Price to Taylor,
no run,
shortish just outside off, cut away straight to point

18.2

Price to Taylor,
no run,
tossed up on middle, pushes it gently back to the bowler

18.3

Price to Taylor,
1 run,
closes the face on that one and rolls it wide of mid-on, quicker through the air from Price

18.4

Price to Ryder,
SIX,
beautifully timed by Ryder, stepped out to that flighted delivery, got to the pitch and launched it over mid-off, it carried all the way, seemed just like a chip

18.5

Price to Ryder,
1 run,
turned past midwicket into the deep for a single

18.6

Price to Taylor,
no run,
fullish on the off, pushed straight to extra cover

End of over 19 (8 runs)
New Zealand 92/3
(RR: 4.84)

LRPL Taylor25 (37b 3x4)

JD Ryder31 (39b 3x4 1x6)

RW Price5-0-22-0

E Chigumbura3-0-14-0

19.1

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
good length on the off, rocks forward and defends it towards mid-off

19.2

Chigumbura to Ryder,
2 runs,
shortish outside off and Ryder latches onto it, slaps it wide of extra cover into the deep for a couple

19.3

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
good length on the off, drives it through the line to mid-off

19.4

Chigumbura to Ryder,
FOUR,
short, too short, on the off stump, it's fish and chips for Ryder, swats it hard over the bowler's head for a boundary, both mid-on and mid-off are up

19.5

Chigumbura to Ryder,
no run,
slashes hard at that one, trying to dispatch it through point, misses

19.6

Chigumbura to Ryder,
2 leg byes,
straying in line is Chigumbura, down the leg side and Ryder helps it past short fine leg for a couple of runs, came off the pads in fact, called leg-byes 100 up

End of over 20 (8 runs)
New Zealand 100/3
(RR: 5.00)

JD Ryder37 (45b 4x4 1x6)

LRPL Taylor25 (37b 3x4)

E Chigumbura4-0-20-0

RW Price5-0-22-0

Time for some leg-spin, M'shangwe comes on

20.1

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
flighted on middle, lands full and Taylor pushes it back to the bowler

20.2

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
shortish outside off, much flatter through the air, tries to cut past point, misses

20.3

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
pushes it down the ground towards long-on for a single

20.4

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run

20.5

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
slightly short on leg stump, turns towards middle, defended back to the bowler

20.6

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
good start to his international career, begins with a maiden, played back down the pitch

End of over 21 (maiden)
New Zealand 100/3
(RR: 4.76)

LRPL Taylor25 (43b 3x4)

JD Ryder37 (45b 4x4 1x6)

N Mushangwe1-1-0-0

E Chigumbura4-0-20-0

Malcolm Waller to bowl now

21.1

Waller to Ryder,
1 run,
eased down the ground towards long-off for a single

21.2

Waller to Taylor,
no run,
flighted on the off stump, gets across and drives it back to the bowler

21.3

Waller to Taylor,
1 run,
fetches it from outside off and sweeps it down to deep square leg

21.4

Waller to Ryder,
1 run,
Ryder steps out and Waller keeps it flat, doesn't quite get to the pitch, adjusts well and defends to extra cover

21.5

Waller to Taylor,
no run,
patted back gently towards the bowler

21.6

Waller to Taylor,
1 run,
steps outside off, waits for it to turn in and sweeps it down to long leg for a single to keep strike

Back to Sid Monga

End of over 22 (4 runs)
New Zealand 104/3
(RR: 4.72)

LRPL Taylor27 (47b 3x4)

JD Ryder39 (47b 4x4 1x6)

MN Waller1-0-4-0

N Mushangwe1-1-0-0

"It strikes me that not many comments have been published lately. Maybe the balance between puns and 'normal' comments is out of Ballance. Or none of you have the eloquence of my 'uncle' Basil." Cheek Stag Otter I was trying to balance my meal and work. Thanks, Sid Talya for pitching in. My meal, if you must wonder, wasn't quite balanced

22.1

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
runs it down with an open face

22.2

Mushangwe to Ryder,
1 run,
full outside off, driven to long-off for one

22.3

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
legbreak, middle and leg, driven to long-on for one

22.4

Mushangwe to Ryder,
no run,
flat, on the pads, misses on the flick

22.5

Mushangwe to Ryder,
no run,
flicks this from in front of off, to midwicket

22.6

Mushangwe to Ryder,
no run,
turning into the pads, beats Ryder's closed face to hit his pad

End of over 23 (3 runs)
New Zealand 107/3
(RR: 4.65)

JD Ryder40 (51b 4x4 1x6)

LRPL Taylor29 (49b 3x4)

N Mushangwe2-1-3-0

MN Waller1-0-4-0

"One thing New Zealand has rarely produced is top quality leg spinners. Looking through the domestic sides just now, I found one leg spinner amongst an army of offies. I wonder why that is?" Matt, I think Chris Harris might be the closest thing to a legspinner New Zealand have produced. I am sure I might be missing a name or two

23.1

Waller to Taylor,
1 run,
wide of the crease, tossed up, driven to long-on for one

23.2

Waller to Ryder,
1 run,
punched down the ground, uppishly past the outstretched hand of the bowler

23.3

Waller to Taylor,
no run,
defended to leg

23.4

Waller to Taylor,
no run,
Ryder has backed up too far and Taylor has hit this straight to straight midwicket. Despite the dive, Ryder was gone had Sibanda hit direct

23.5

Waller to Taylor,
no run,
defended to extra cover

23.6

Waller to Taylor,
no run,
looks to turn this to leg, can't beat straight midwicket

End of over 24 (2 runs)
New Zealand 109/3
(RR: 4.54)

LRPL Taylor30 (54b 3x4)

JD Ryder41 (52b 4x4 1x6)

MN Waller2-0-6-0

N Mushangwe2-1-3-0

24.1

Mushangwe to Ryder,
1 run,
length ball, on the pads, worked away to deep square

24.2

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
short of a length, turning away from around off, punched to long-on for one

24.3

Mushangwe to Ryder,
1 run,
pitched up on the pads, worked away for an easy single

24.4

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
worked away off the pads for a single

24.5

Mushangwe to Ryder,
1 run,
overpitched on the pads, another single accrues

Waller to Ryder,
no run,
Waller makes a fine diving save to his right to save a single here

25.2

Waller to Ryder,
FOUR,
lovely lovely shot from Jesse. Takes a step towards the line of the ball and chips it nonchalantly over extra cover

25.3

Waller to Ryder,
no run,
angling into the pads, defended back

25.4

Waller to Ryder,
no run,
length ball, middle and off, holding its line, defended back

Vinay: "Yup who could forget Brooke Walker the Shane Warne copycat"

25.5

Waller to Ryder,
1 run,
short of a length, on the pads, punched down the ground

25.6

Waller to Taylor,
no run,
offbreak into the pads, can't beat midwicket

"I take exactly 14 overs to bath when Zimbabwe or Bangladesh are bowling- and exactly 9 over to bath when England is bowling. ICC should do something to Ballance that." Learnfirst, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have armies of spinners. However, the way England are playing, you would want to spend more overs in the bath

End of over 26 (5 runs)
New Zealand 119/3
(RR: 4.57)

LRPL Taylor32 (58b 3x4)

JD Ryder49 (60b 5x4 1x6)

MN Waller3-0-11-0

N Mushangwe3-1-8-0

26.1

Mushangwe to Ryder,
no run,
flighted outside off, driven to cover

26.2

Mushangwe to Ryder,
no run,
short of a length, outside off, hit back to the bowler

Waller to Ryder,
1 run,
Ryder gives him the charge, takes it on the full, drives it to long-off for one

27.2

Waller to Taylor,
1 run,
Ryder charges out too, Waller pulls the length back, Taylor has to recover and push it to sweeper-cover

27.3

Waller to Ryder,
2 runs,
Ryder tries to chip over extra cover again, but ends up hitting it much straighter than he wants. Natsai M'shangwe from long-off makes a diving effort but can't get to it

27.4

Waller to Ryder,
OUT,
Leading edge. This seems to be angling into the pads, I don't see much turn, but Ryder has closed the face a touch early, and lobs back an easy return catch. Ryder is slow as Inzi on his walk back

JD Ryder c & b Waller 53 (76m 68b 5x4 1x6) SR: 77.94

"Taylor is playing oh so well, but....his team mates have NZ names. Is this some new format???" Yes, Solomon, this format makes sure a Taylor walks away with the winner's cheque every time. In comes Kane Williamson

Waller to Williamson,
1 run,
punched away square on the leg side for one

End of over 28 (5 runs)
New Zealand 125/4
(RR: 4.46)

KS Williamson1 (2b)

LRPL Taylor33 (60b 3x4)

MN Waller4-0-16-1

N Mushangwe4-1-9-0

Chris: "'great' Kiwi leggies - who could look past Greg Loveridge, who also played against Zim".
Matt D: "Greg Loveridge legbreak bowler. the test bowler who didn't bowl against Zimbabwe.NZ version of Steven Smith."

28.1

Mushangwe to Williamson,
1 run,
flighted on off, driven to long-off for one

28.2

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
another drive to long-off

28.3

Mushangwe to Williamson,
no run,
this is slower through the air, turns a bit too, pushed to extra cover

28.4

Mushangwe to Williamson,
1 run,
pitches middle and leg, turning away, punched down to long-off for one

28.5

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
left alone outside off, this was pushed through

28.6

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
short, late-cut away, but Price makes a diving save at short third man to keep them down to one

End of over 29 (4 runs)
New Zealand 129/4
(RR: 4.44)

LRPL Taylor35 (63b 3x4)

KS Williamson3 (5b)

N Mushangwe5-1-13-0

MN Waller4-0-16-1

"Does that mean that Mark Taylor will be coming out of retirement so that Australia can join in on this new format?" BJ, at the risk of inducing cringes, Mark will have to stitch together a string of decent first-class innings in order to make the international comeback

29.1

Waller to Taylor,
1 run,
looks to late-cut this, but can't get it fine

29.2

Waller to Williamson,
no run,
full outside off, driven to extra cover

29.3

Waller to Williamson,
no run,
looks for a single in the leg side, can't beat square leg

29.4

Waller to Williamson,
1 run,
long hop, pulled away to deep midwicket for one

29.5

Waller to Taylor,
no run,
full, on the pads, can't beat the straight midwicket

29.6

Waller to Taylor,
no run,
looks to tip and run, but Taibu is quick and denies them the single

End of over 30 (2 runs)
New Zealand 131/4
(RR: 4.36)

LRPL Taylor36 (66b 3x4)

KS Williamson4 (8b)

MN Waller5-0-18-1

N Mushangwe5-1-13-0

30.1

Mushangwe to Williamson,
1 run,
full outside off, can't beat cover with the attempt at drive

30.2

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
driven down the ground, but can't get it past the outstretched left hand of the bowler

30.3

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
a wide half-volley, he drives with an open face, but is beaten

30.4

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
too straight, but it doesn't turn and beats the inside edge of Taylor's bat

30.5

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
another diving save off his own bowling, to his left, denies him the single

30.6

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
full and straight, played back to him

End of over 31 (1 run)
New Zealand 132/4
(RR: 4.25)

LRPL Taylor36 (71b 3x4)

KS Williamson5 (9b)

N Mushangwe6-1-14-0

MN Waller5-0-18-1

31.1

Waller to Williamson,
1 run,
short of a length, turning in, pushed to midwicket

Sanjiv: "I'm sure by the rate Australia is changing their spin bowlers, Peter Taylor might feel he has a pretty good chance."

31.2

Waller to Taylor,
1 run,
shimmies down the track, gets too close to the pitch of the ball, hits along the ground to long-on

31.3

Waller to Williamson,
FOUR,
nicely executed late-cut, it is short and wide, Williamson makes room and hits it past point

31.4

Waller to Williamson,
FOUR,
this over is taking all the pressure off. Another long hop, and he has pulled it away between deep square and deep midwicket

31.5

Waller to Williamson,
1 run,
flighted on off, worked past midwicket for one

31.6

Waller to Taylor,
1 run,
driven to long-on

"Great Kiwi legspinners? Clarrie Grimmett played 37 Tests between 1924 and 1936, taking 216 wickets at an average of just 24.21 runs apiece." Yes Mick, the one that got away

End of over 32 (12 runs)
New Zealand 144/4
(RR: 4.50)

LRPL Taylor38 (73b 3x4)

KS Williamson15 (13b 2x4)

MN Waller6-0-30-1

N Mushangwe6-1-14-0

"For a man with a reputation of being one of the big hitters, this is disapointing from Taylor. Strike rate 51? I s'pose it's the pressure of the captaincy and wanting to lead by example. But he's gonna have to be there at the end to make this count." Matt, three early wickets? And Taylor can make up for the strike-rate in three good overs

32.1

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
punched down to long-on

32.2

Mushangwe to Williamson,
1 run,
too straight again, concedes a single to long-on

32.3

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
too full this time, a single to long-off accrues now

32.4

Mushangwe to Williamson,
2 runs,
wide full toss, could have been called, but he pushes at it with an open face, wide of deep point

32.5

Mushangwe to Williamson,
3 runs,
pushed to midwicket for a single, but Sibanda throws wide to allow more

32.6

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
full, driven square with an open face

End of over 33 (9 runs)
New Zealand 153/4
(RR: 4.63)

LRPL Taylor41 (76b 3x4)

KS Williamson21 (16b 2x4)

N Mushangwe7-1-23-0

MN Waller6-0-30-1

Price is back now

33.1

Price to Taylor,
1 run,
short of a length, on off, punched down to long-on for one

33.2

Price to Williamson,
1 run,
punched down to long-off for one

33.3

Price to Taylor,
2 wides,
fired down the leg side, and they take a single off the ricochet off Taibu's gloves too

33.3

Price to Williamson,
no run,
arm ball, punched to leg, but can't beat the straight midwicket

33.4

Price to Williamson,
no run,
slows it down, flights it generously, defended to extra cover

33.5

Price to Williamson,
1 run,
pushed down to long-on for one now

33.6

Price to Taylor,
no run,
that's a wide down the leg side. Oh wait, it hasn't been called. Taylor is surprised, and so am I. The umpire reckons it hit the pad on the way. I didn't see any such event

End of over 34 (5 runs)
New Zealand 158/4
(RR: 4.64)

LRPL Taylor42 (78b 3x4)

KS Williamson23 (20b 2x4)

RW Price6-0-27-0

N Mushangwe7-1-23-0

"Taylor may be going slowly now, but he was only on 65 after 100 in his innings of 131 off 124 against Pakistan in the World Cup..." Exactly my point, Mykuhl

34.1

Mushangwe to Williamson,
1 run,
driven to sweeper-cover for one

34.2

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
opens the face on this to take a single to point

34.3

Mushangwe to Williamson,
no run,
flighted on middle and leg, pushed to midwicket

34.4

Mushangwe to Williamson,
no run,
overpitched, opens the face on this, but Taylor is quick at cover to cut the single

34.5

Mushangwe to Williamson,
1 run,
slow through the air, gets turn on it, takes the edge, but wide of the keeper

34.6

Mushangwe to Taylor,
no run,
full on off, and he dives to his left to save another single

End of over 35 (3 runs)
New Zealand 161/4
(RR: 4.60)

LRPL Taylor43 (80b 3x4)

KS Williamson25 (24b 2x4)

N Mushangwe8-1-26-0

RW Price6-0-27-0

"Has anyone jolly well got any good Ballance jokes left? Yes? No? Maybe? Come on, I liked the jokes, wot!" Basil, I told you we would soon run out and will have nothing when the guy actually debuts. Powerplay time. Here is Price

Price to Williamson,
no run,
cramps him up again, hit to straight midwicket

35.4

Price to Williamson,
1 run,
makes room this time to punch it square from in front of the stumps

35.5

Price to Taylor,
2 runs,
Taylor tries the big sweep first ball, Price fires it in full and straight, Taylor gets a huge top edge on the low full toss, but it clears Masakadza who is running back from square leg

Actually forget the Taylors. Zimbabwe have a played whose first name is Hamilton

35.6

Price to Taylor,
FOUR,
hits this sweep all right, along the ground, past square leg. Taylor is warming up. Taylor raises his bat because the scoreboard at the ground shows he is 50. He is not

End of over 36 (7 runs)
New Zealand 168/4
(RR: 4.66)

LRPL Taylor49 (82b 4x4)

KS Williamson26 (28b 2x4)

RW Price7-0-34-0

N Mushangwe8-1-26-0

Keegan Meth comes back for the Powerplay. "Well, Gary Ballance was quite a good hockey player as well, but I suppose it was tough to Ballance the two..." Daniel performs on cue

36.1

Meth to Williamson,
1 run,
Williamson seems to have moved too far across but gets bat on it, past square leg

Don't know if Taylor has seen that the scoreboard at the ground has been corrected

36.2

Meth to Taylor,
1 run,
takes a single to midwicket to bring up his fifty, but he think he is 51 and doesn't raise the bat

Meth to Williamson,
1 run,
moves across again, flicks a low full toss, but Taibu makes a full-length diving save at short fine leg

36.4

Meth to Taylor,
no run,
Taylor stands his ground and strikes across the line of this, but can't beat midwicket

36.5

Meth to Taylor,
1 run,
full on the pads, driven to long-on for one

36.6

Meth to Williamson,
2 runs,
lucky runs here, KW tries to slog one form outside off, gets a thick inside edge between the keeper and short fine, but Taibu saves two runs with his electric chase. I can't think of too many other fielders who would have fielded this

Time for a much-needed drink

End of over 37 (7 runs)
New Zealand 175/4
(RR: 4.72)

KS Williamson30 (31b 2x4)

LRPL Taylor51 (85b 4x4)

KO Meth6-0-34-0

RW Price7-0-34-0

"Is it a kiwi drink?" Nah Basil, I went for pain water. Speaking of which, Dion Nash sells some sort of really expensive, boutique water in Auckland. It's called 420. In the Indian Penal Code, all fraud cases fall under the Section 420

37.1

Price to Taylor,
no run,
fired into the pads pushed to midwicket

37.2

Price to Taylor,
1 run,
hit into the leg side, but he has both deep square and deep midwicket for Taylor

37.3

Price to Williamson,
1 leg bye,
full, into the pads, concedes just a leg-bye

37.4

Price to Taylor,
no run,
Taylor looks to make room, but Price fires this in again, cramping him up. Hit back to the bowler

37.5

Price to Taylor,
2 runs,
gets inside the line of this one, hitting it between deep square and deep midwicket

37.6

Price to Taylor,
1 wide,
this one is angled too far down and is called a wide

37.6

Price to Taylor,
1 run,
pushed to mid-on to keep strike

End of over 38 (6 runs)
New Zealand 181/4
(RR: 4.76)

LRPL Taylor55 (90b 4x4)

KS Williamson30 (32b 2x4)

RW Price8-0-39-0

KO Meth6-0-34-0

38.1

Meth to Taylor,
SIX,
Taylor slogs, and you can;t afford to bowl length when he is doing that. Lofts this over midwicket. His hockey hands into the act

38.2

Meth to Taylor,
1 run,
full now, doesn't let him get under it, just the single to long-on

38.3

Meth to Williamson,
1 run,
appeal for lbw as he moves across and is hit on the pad. It has hit him in line, it is pretty full, but the umpire signals no leg-bye. I don't see any inside edge, though, the bat seems to have hit the ground, though

38.4

Meth to Taylor,
1 run,
full, straight, hit to long-on for one

38.5

Meth to Williamson,
FOUR,
for a change tries to go over cover. Makes room this time, gets a length ball, drives at it, gets a thick edge, which flies between point and short third man

38.6

Meth to Williamson,
no run,
tries the square-drive, but can't get it past point

End of over 39 (13 runs)
New Zealand 194/4
(RR: 4.97)

KS Williamson35 (35b 3x4)

LRPL Taylor63 (93b 4x4 1x6)

KO Meth7-0-47-0

RW Price8-0-39-0

Steven: "Had a rather interesting morning today. Went to a rather Pricey Taylor for a pair of pants, then had Kiwi fruit for breakfast just to balance the diet." Here's Price to Taylor

Price to Taylor,
FOUR,
makes room first, then goes inside the line of a fast leg-side full toss, hits the sweep in the air, Masakadza runs to his right from deep square, makes a full-length dive, gets one hand to it, but can't hold on

39.3

Price to Taylor,
1 run,
cuts this from well outside leg, can't beat point

Mushangwe to Taylor,
SIX,
the hockey hands again, moves across, gets low, slog-sweeps this length ball over the shorter boundary, which is deep midwicket when bowling from this end

42.4

Mushangwe to Taylor,
FOUR,
Taylor is waiting for the lenght correction. He just sits back to use the pace on this shortish delivery, placing it between point and short third

42.5

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
slog sweep this time, but this is along the ground, and gets him just the single

"I've noticed a huge im-ballance between the number of comments I send through and the number that actually get published. Hope you make the right decision to include this one for Ballance's sake" Hope this sets things right, Cavan

42.6

Mushangwe to Williamson,
1 run,
looks to go over cover, but it is too full, he can't get under it, and ends up pushing it back

End of over 43 (12 runs)
New Zealand 232/4
(RR: 5.39)

KS Williamson49 (44b 4x4)

LRPL Taylor86 (108b 6x4 2x6)

N Mushangwe9-1-38-0

RW Price10-0-57-0

Ncube comes back

43.1

Ncube to Williamson,
5 wides,
this had a touch of Murphy to it. All that could go wrong did. A wide down the leg side hits the foot holes and explodes over the keeper's head

43.1

Ncube to Williamson,
FOUR,
that's fifty for KW, with a pull past deep square leg. He has been smooth during the innings, making sure NZ didn't stall after Ryder's wicket

43.2

Ncube to Williamson,
1 wide,
another wide down the leg side, that's 10 runs off 1 ball on his return spell

43.2

Ncube to Williamson,
no run,
short of a length, on off, no room, hit back to the bowler

"With all these puns, i bet you guys are dreading Woodcock getting a bat." Jimmy I hoped Cricinfo readers had a low beyond which they wouldn't stoop

43.3

Ncube to Williamson,
1 wide,
moves across the line to try and scoop, he tries to go behind with him, but ends up with another wide

"He's missed bowling him by a centremetre and is called for wide. How about the batsman loses a run for terrible batting!" Tim is immediate with a response

43.3

Ncube to Williamson,
1 run,
makes room to punch this, and B Taylor's misfield at extra cover allows them the single

43.4

Ncube to Taylor,
1 run,
short of a length, worked away off the hip for one

43.5

Ncube to Williamson,
FOUR,
short, middle and leg, he moves away and pulls past midwicket, all along the ground. Powerful hit

43.6

Ncube to Williamson,
1 run,
full, on the pads, worked away for a single

End of over 44 (18 runs)
New Zealand 250/4
(RR: 5.68)

KS Williamson59 (49b 6x4)

LRPL Taylor87 (109b 6x4 2x6)

N Ncube7-1-46-2

N Mushangwe9-1-38-0

Meth comes back

44.1

Meth to Williamson,
1 run,
length ball, middle and leg, he has moved across to sweep it to short fine leg

44.2

Meth to Taylor,
FOUR,
full toss on the pads, with fine leg in the circle, Taylor accepts the freebie

44.3

Meth to Taylor,
1 run,
walks down the track to take this on the full, but gets an inside edge on it. Will be just the single

44.4

Meth to Williamson,
no run,
well bowled, yorks KW who is charging at him. A well-earned dot

44.5

Meth to Williamson,
1 run,
another yorker, digs it out for a single

"How much wood would a Woodcock cock if a Woodcock could cock wood? You thought wrong, mate." So I can see, Luke

44.6

Meth to Taylor,
2 runs,
full outside off, driven to the right of deep point for a couple

End of over 45 (9 runs)
New Zealand 259/4
(RR: 5.75)

LRPL Taylor94 (112b 7x4 2x6)

KS Williamson61 (52b 6x4)

KO Meth8-0-56-0

N Ncube7-1-46-2

45.1

Mushangwe to Williamson,
FOUR,
slightly short, slightly wide, he rocks back and cuts it in front of square. Powerfully done

45.2

Mushangwe to Williamson,
1 run,
dropped off his own bowling, tries to hit down the ground, doesn't get the elevation, but he can't hold onto a high chance to his left

45.3

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
cut away to backward point for one

45.4

Mushangwe to Williamson,
1 run,
punched square for another single

45.5

Mushangwe to Taylor,
FOUR,
poor fielding at short third man. Late-cuts this, to the right of short third man, and Ncube comes down on this like an old lady, letting it through

45.6

Mushangwe to Taylor,
1 run,
cut away to reach his hundred. Removes the helmet, and holds his arms aloft. The NZ gallery acknowledges the effort

So Ross keeps alive the noble tradition of a Taylor scoring a century in the first innings of all ODIs

Meth to Williamson,
FOUR,
length ball, gets down on a knee, and slogs this between long-on and deep midwicket - 150 for the partnership

"Did I, or did I not, predict a 120 ball century for the skipper, back when Matt was complaining about his strike-rate? May I bask in your adulation?" I can see a halo around your name, Simon. Meth goes round the wicket

46.3

Meth to Williamson,
1 run,
gets a low full toss, but mis-hits it to deep midwicket. Falls in front of the man

46.4

Meth to Taylor,
2 runs,
full on off, near yorker, driven to the left of sweeper-cover for two

46.5

Meth to Taylor,
1 run,
a near-yorker on the pads, will be just a single

46.6

Meth to Williamson,
1 run,
full, outside off, driven to long-off for one

End of over 47 (10 runs)
New Zealand 281/4
(RR: 5.97)

KS Williamson73 (58b 8x4)

LRPL Taylor104 (118b 8x4 2x6)

KO Meth9-0-66-0

N Mushangwe10-1-50-0

Raz: "When Woodcock does come out to bat, can we say that he's sporting wood? If it's in the morning, would it be morning wood? Woodcock-e-doodle-doooo!" Ncube comes back

47.1

Ncube to Williamson,
1 run,
yorker on off, squeezed out for a single

47.2

Ncube to Taylor,
2 runs,
low full toss, hit to deep midwicket in the longer part of the ground, Taylor wants the second, and is in danger of being run-out. Waller's throw is flat and full, and not too wide, but Taylor makes in the extra time it takes to collect and whip the bails off. The referral to third umpire earns him a break

47.3

Ncube to Taylor,
1 leg bye,
good yorker, follows him, cramps him up, just the leg-bye

47.4

Ncube to Williamson,
1 run,
wide yorker, can't do much more than it except the single to extra cover

47.5

Ncube to Taylor,
1 leg bye,
another good yorker, follows him to cramp him up, concedes just the leg-bye

47.6

Ncube to Williamson,
(no ball) FOUR,
A superb over ends in a poor ball. A rib-high full toss that is not only scooped fine for four but is also called a no-ball for height

47.6

Ncube to Williamson,
1 run,
yorks him outside leg, dug out for a single to long-on

End of over 48 (12 runs)
New Zealand 293/4
(RR: 6.10)

KS Williamson80 (62b 9x4)

LRPL Taylor106 (121b 8x4 2x6)

N Ncube8-1-56-2

KO Meth9-0-66-0

"Ncube would fit right in a math class. Right next to Msquared and Logx" Pee Ess, hands down the best piece of work today

48.1

Meth to Williamson,
SIX,
length ball, don't do that at the death. KW goes down on a nee, and slog-sweeps him as he would a spinner

48.2

Meth to Williamson,
1 run,
this is in the block hole, and goes just for a single

48.3

Meth to Taylor,
SIX,
Meth has got it all wrong under pressure. Trying the yorker, bowls a juicy fill toss, and Hockey Hands sends it way over deep midwicket

48.4

Meth to Taylor,
1 run,
this is better, a near yorker outside off, driven to sweeper-cover for one

48.5

Meth to Williamson,
FOUR,
length outside off, slog-swept between deep midwicket and long-on, all along the ground

48.6

Meth to Williamson,
1 run,
length again, but this time KW finds long-on. That, though, keeps him on strike, eight short of a hundred now

Ncube to Taylor,
2 runs,
yorker, digs it out, wide of deep midwicket, comes back for two

49.3

Ncube to Taylor,
FOUR,
short of a length, Taylor stands there and pulls it between deep midwicket and long-on. KW running out of balls to try to get a hundred

49.4

Ncube to Taylor,
OUT,
Taylor is bowled, which also means KW won't get a hundred. Back to Taylor, though. It's a lenght ball, the kind he sometimes hits for sixes blindfolded. But he misses this, and the middle stump goes for a walk

Ncube to NL McCullum,
1 run,
lofted over mid-off, a teasing skier, Taibu runs back, but with Hamilton Masakadza in vicinity he takes his eye off it, and drops it

49.6

Ncube to Williamson,
(no ball) FOUR,
KW gets a second bite of the cherry. He gets a no-ball last ball. It's a high full toss, and the top edge goes over short third man for four. Ncube is taken off after a second beamer, and KW gets another shot at the hundred. Funny little game, is this

49.6

Chigumbura to Williamson,
3 runs,
puts in the dive to complete a superb hundred. This is a short ball, but doesn't quite come on, and he ends up punching it over mid-off. Taibu gives it the chase, but the batsmen run hard and come back for three. Taibu's throw is by the stumps, but KW puts a big dive in in the home stretch. The whole dressing room is on its feet. And James writes in, "So Kane is Abel to get a 100 despite being n'squared up by a n'ball from N'Cube? Very c'nfusing!"

Zimbabwe started well, but wilted under the pressure from New Zealand's middle order. Ryder counterattacked as Taylor got entrenched, and then Taylor and Williamson punished them mercilessly in a mutli record-breaking 195-run fifth-wicket stand. Zimbabwe even bowled a no-ball to allow Williamson a century after he had been 93 facing the last ball. Full credit to KW, though, for hitting the no-ball for four and the legitimate one for three. Do join us for the chase. I'll be back by 1.40pm